Bust-girdle



(No Medial.)

"L. G. STITT.

BUST GIRDLB.

Patented Dec, 8, 1896.

UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE.

LOUISE G. STITT, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

BUST-LGIRDLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 572,621, dated December 8, 1896. Application filed April 1, 1896. Serial No. 585,750. (No model.)

T0 at. whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, LOUISE G. STITT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have in vented a new and useful Improvement in Bust-Girdle's, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to bust-girdles. The object of the invention is to provide a bust-supporter of simple and convenient construction which is' thoroughly eificient and comfortable to the wearer, which supports the bust from the shoulders, which does not interfere with the proper action of the respiratory organs, and which avoids the use of corsets.

The invention consists substantially in the construction, combination, location, and relative arrangement of parts, all as will be more fully hereinafter set forth, as shown in the accompanying drawings, and finally specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a View illustrating the bust-girdle spread out. Fig. 2 is a view illustrating the manner of its use upon a wearer. Fig. 3 is a detached detail view illustrating the method of attaching certain parts together. Fig. 4 is detail sectional view on the line at 4, Fig. 1.

The bust-girdle forming the present invention is formed of the back piece A,which may, if desired, comprise a single piece of any suitable material, but, and as shown, I prefer to form said back piece of two parts B O and suitably attached together at their meeting edges, as by means of the lacing D, whereby said pieces may be loosened or tightened, that is, spread apart or drawn closer together, as the comfort of the wearer may require. Each of the parts B C is provided with a yoked portion, as E, along a portion of one edge thereof, and preferably, though not necessarily, the top edges G H of said portions are inclined away from each other, starting from the meeting edges of said parts B O, as clearly shown, the inclined edges G and H and the yoked portion E of each part B G forming an end F, to which is suitably secured in any desirable manner a shoulder-strap J K, which may, if desired, comprise an elastic, as shown. To the outer edge of each part B O is attached a strip L M, which may, if desired, be made in a single piece, but for efficiency and strength I prefer to make the side pieces L M in two parts, that is, along the outer edge of each piece L M, I attach the end pieces N O,the upper edges of the strips L M and their attached end pieces N 0 being yoked or curved to fit snugly around the arm of the wearer at the armpit, and each end piece N O is pro- 6o vided with the flaps P Q, adapted to be buttoned or otherwise suitably and detachably secured to the shoulder-straps J K, respectively, and as shown in Fig. 2. The extreme outer ends of the pieces N O terminate in the flaps R S, said flaps when the'girdle is in use being arranged to cross each other in front of the body and to be respectively buttoned or otherwise detachably fastened to the shoulder-straps J K, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, forming with respect to each other a Grecian cross.

If desired, the straps T maybe suitably secured to the bottom edges of the supporter or girdle, by which other articles of wearing-apparel or undergarments may be supported.

If desired, each of the crossing ends L S and M R may be provided with suitable devices, such, for instance, as strings V, by which said crossing portions may be tied or otherwise suitably secured or fastened detachably together at the crossing-point and thus add to the eifectiveness of the girdle as a support for the bust.

WVhile I have described the portions or pieces B O as provided with the edges G H, inclined away from each other, thereby form- 'ing substantially a V in the back of the girdle, it will be understood that I do not limit myself thereto. I

By reference to Fig. 3 it will be seen that the meeting edges of the pieces L N or M O are cut convex with reference to each other before said pieces or edges are sewed or otherwise attached together. When, therefore, 5 these convexed edges are sewed together, on account of such convexity a bulge or fulness in the article along the seam is formed, as illustrated in the cross-sectional view in Fig. 4. Thisis animportantfeature,forthe reason too that thereby this portion of the girdle is en abled to fit more snugly, neatly, and completely the outline of the bust when the end piece or strap S is carried across the body of the wearer and attached to the shoulder-strap IO 5 on the opposite side, as will be readily un derstood.

The method of use of the bust supporter or girdle,which I denominate the Grecian bustgirdle, is as follows: The shoulder-strapsJ K are passed over the shoulders of the wearer. The straps P Q are then passed under the arms from back to front and are suitably secured or fastened to the shoulder-straps, as by buttoning the same thereto, as shown, and the end portions R S are then passed from one side of the wearer across to the shoulder-strap on the other side, to which they are respectively secured or fastened, as by means of the buttons, as shown, the said end pieces R S crossing each other in front of the body, thereby firmly and efficiently supporting the bust.

The girdle may be of any suitable or desirable material, though I prefer to use a flexible material possessing suflicient strength to firmly brace and support the bust, the flexibility of the material enabling the garment to conform easily and comfortably to the body of the wearer and to permit, the motions of the muscles or other contractile portions of the body during respiration or other movement of the body.

It Will be observed that by the Grecian-cross arrangement of the end pieces R S in front of the-body'of the wearer the movement of the lower part of the body during the operation and action of breathing is entirely unhampered, thereby avoiding the injurious compression of the respiratory organs resulting from tight or laced. corsets and at the same time making an exceedingly comfortable bust-supporter.

It will also be seen that a bust-girdle constructed in accordance with my invention does not require the use of bones or other stiifening devices, such as are commonly employed in the articles of wearing-apparel of this general class and nature, and which are more or less injurious to the health and comfort of the wearer.

It will also be seen that the support for the bust, as well as for the other articles of apparel or underwear, when attached to the strap T, is from the shoulders of the wearer instead of from the hips, and this is a decided ad vantage as regards the health as well as the comfort of the wearer.

A bustgirdle constructed inaccordance with my invention not only supports effectively the bust of the wearer, but also preserves the shape of the-wearer, and that, too, in an easy andcomfortable manner andwitln out the use of corsets.

Having now stated the object and nature of my invention and a form of embodiment thereof, and having set forth and described its construction, function, and mode of operation, I desire it to be distinctly understood that I do not limit or restrict myself to the exact details of construction andarrangement of parts shown and described, as many alterations and variations would readily suggest themselves to persons skilled in the art, and many additions may be made thereto by way of trimmings and ornamentations without in any manner departing from the spirit or scope of my invention; but

What I claim as new and useful and of my own invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. A bust-girdle, comprising a body portion, having shoulder-straps formed thereon, adapted to be passed over the shoulders, said body portion also having end pieces formed thereon, arranged to cross each other in front of the body and adapted to be respectively secured to said shoulder-straps; as and for the purpose set forth.

2. A bust-girdle comprising a body portion having shoulder-straps secured thereto, end pieces also formed on said body part and re* spectively arranged to be passed from one side of the wearer across the front of the bod y and to be secured to the shoulder-strap on the opposite side, and means for detachably fastening the end pieces together at the point where they cross each other; as and for the purpose set forth.

3. A bust-girdle, comprising the body part having shoulder straps secured thereto, adapted to be passed over the shoulder of the wearer, arm-straps, also secured to said body part and arranged to be passed underneath the arms and to be secured to said shoulderstraps, said body part also provided with end portions arranged to be passed from one side of the wearer across and in front of the body and to be attached to the shoulder-strap on the opposite side; as and for the purpose set forth.

4-. A bust-girdle, comprising a body portion, composed of two parts, each part provided with a shoulder-strap, an arm-strap and an end portion, means for adj ustably attaching the two parts of said body portion together, said arm-straps arranged to be passed under the arm and to be attached to the shoulder-strap on the same part of the body portion, and each end portion arranged to be passed across the front of the body of the wearer and attached to the shoulder-strap on the opposite body portion; as and for the purpose set forth.

5. A bust-girdle comprising a body portion having shoulder-straps and side portions, each side portion composed of two parts attached together at their meeting edges, said meeting edges being convex with respect to each other, thereby forming a bulge, and straps or end ICC IIO

pieces formed on the outer of said side portions and adapted to be passed across the front of the body of the wearer and attached to the shoulder-strap on the opposite side; as and for the purpose set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 30th day of March, 1896.

LOUISE G. STITT; \Vitncsses FRANK '1. BROWN, S. E. DARBY. 

